The feed as you know it could disappear: Instagram’s algorithm under fire

What if the algorithm no longer decides what you see on Instagram? A Dutch court has ordered Meta to make changes to its platforms, ruling that the current algorithmic feed violates the Digital Services Act (Article 14 Terms and Conditions, 2024). The chronological timeline, which users should be able to choose themselves, is too deeply hidden and keeps resetting automatically. According to the court, that’s a form of dark pattern, and Meta now has two weeks to make adjustments (Reuters, 2025).

This is big news for brands, creators, and agencies. If Instagram is forced to make the chronological feed more prominent, the playing field could shift dramatically. Instead of an algorithm deciding what you see, you’d only see content from the accounts you actually follow in order of publication, just like the old days. At the same time, algorithmic spaces like Search, Explore, and Reels will still exist, where Instagram decides what you discover based on your behavior, preferences, and interactions.

In other words: the balance between your “inner circle” and the “discovery space” on Instagram might change. Reach will depend less on the algorithm and more on timing, relevance, and real interaction. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting globally for social platforms to become more transparent about how their algorithms work, which could impact strategy, content planning, and performance.